Las Vegas' 8 Locks To Make The NFL Playoffs
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Who are Vegas bookies betting on to make the playoffs? Seven teams pay worse than even money to make the playoffs this year, according to gaming website Bovada. Can You guess them all? Let's go from most obvious to least.
Denver Broncos (- 450 , meaning you must bet $450 to win $100)
Despite playing in a division in which three teams made the playoffs last year and getting pummeled in the Super Bowl, prognosticators think Peyton Manning and company will be back in the postseason. Some of the parts are missing from last year's top offense - Knowshon Moreno and Eric Decker most notably - but Peyton still has enough weapons to be the overall Super Bowl Favorite.
New England Patriots (-400)
The Patriots benefit from playing in a weaker division than the other Super Bowl favorites, and oddsmakers thing they have a great shot to land their 12th division title in 14 years. Word out of camp is that Tom Brady looks ready for opening kickoff one week into camp.
Seattle Seahawks (-300)
The defending champs opened the bidding as the top play to repeat as Super Bowl victors, but have since slid behind the Broncos. Vegas sees them as a very strong play to make the postseason again, despite the fact that their stiffest competition to repeat in the NFC is likely to come from within the division in San Francisco.
San Francisco (-250)
The 49ers have fallen just short in championship games the last two years, but the squad hasn't fallen short of the playoffs since Jim Harbaugh took over in 2011. Vegas thinks we'll see some Kaepernickig well into January.
Colts (-215)
If you've watched Andrew Luck progress from college into the pros, you certainly aren't going to bet against him taking the Colts to the division title in the weak AFC South. Vegas isn't.
Packers (-225)
The march to the playoffs through the frigid NFC North is never the easiest way to the postseason, but Aaron Rodgers has proven as capable as staying on course as anyone in recent memory. Bookies think he's a safe bet to take The Pac to the promised land again this year.
Saints (-175)
The Saints have been a good bet for the playoffs in the Sean Peyton-Drew Brees era, making the playoffs five times since 2006. But they do face a challenge from the division rival Panthers, who beat them out for the NFC South crown last year. If they can keep the offense revving at full potential, they should stay in the playoff hunt all year.
Eagles (-140)
The Eagles are the only team Bovada has saddled with both a negative line to make and miss the playoffs, meaning they're the biggest coin flip of the postseason favorites. Chip Kelly believers think the offense will continue to progress this year and the team will have a shot to make a run at the Super Bowl.
Check out the full Super Bowl Championship odds here.
